Cleaning apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 8, 1939. v c. H. vlnALA 2,168,692"

' CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30,1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 c. H. VIDAL 2,168,692

GLEAMNG APPARATUS A Fijlcl Aug, so, 1937 4 sheets-sheet s Aug.s,1939.. QHVIDALv Y 2,168,692 I CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 30, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ifwnfor:

Patented Aug. 1939 ol-Fics hcrediamo. APPARATUS Charles Henry Vidal, London, England Apoiiootioii August so, 1931, sei-iin No. 161,615 o ni Groot Britain september 5, 193e` 'l Claims. (Cl. 15-4) This invention is for improvements in or relating to surface cleaning;apparatus.`

According to this invention a surface cleaning apparatus comprises in combination la brush n having a at surface adapted to contactwith thesurface to be cleaned. a reservoir for cleaning liquid, a delivery conduit communicating withl said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within the confines of io the brush, an upwardly extending suction conv-duit secured at its lowerend to the center of the brush, a plurality of branch suction conduits communicating with the lower end of said suc# Ation conduit and having openings close tosaid l brush andto the said surface to be cleaned," a centrifugal pump having itsy rotor arranged above and co-axial with said suction conduit and having its inlet communicating with the upper end of -`the conduit and having its outlet communicating v with said reservoir, and an electric motor adapt- 'ed to vdrive said pump, all ofv which mounted as a transportable unit.l

In order that the cleaning operation may be more effective, a movable brush'is arranged ailjacent the delivery opening 'or openings so as to parts are scrub the surface to be cleaned which brush .is

- driven by a motor which preferably also actuates said pump. In such an arrangement, said 'delivery `opening or openings may be arranged in said brush so as to feed the liquid on to the surface at the\loca1ity of contact with the brush.

4A. disc-type brush may be providedrwhich is mounted on a shaftv to rotate about, a vertical axis.- Preferably, a universal loin't may be provided between said brush vand the driving shaft so that the brush may readily accommodate itself to inequalities of level .in the surface being cleaned. o

The aforesaid su'ction openings may be i'ormedl in a gallery-chamber formed in and rotatable with said brush. which gallery-chamber commu-- v-nicates with `the inlet 4side of the pump. -As already indicated,` the `suction openings maybe arranged to encircle the delivery opening or openings and maybe arranged around the con- ,tourofthebruslnA In one arrangement the brush may comprise municates 'with the brush.

the pump. lThe pump may be provided with a centrifugal rotor and the rotatable element of the centrifuge may be formed integral with or attached directly tosaid rotor. For example, 'the rotor may comprise a disc formed with the rvblades of the centrifugal pump, which blades are i .encircled bythe bowl ofthe centrifuge.

In anar-rangement in which a disc-type brush is employed, it and the pump rotor ,may be mounted, respectively, on two hollow shafts ver- 10 uoeuy disposed in axial oiigmiooiit` driven oi different speeds from the motor and housed in a huid-tight casing. In such an arrangement, the

' upper end of the upper shaft communicates with a central low-pressure zone of the centrifugal 16 y pump and the lower end of the lower shaft comgallery-chamber in said The centrifugal pump an centrifuge may be housed in o, closed casing i to which the liquid 20,

separated by the centrifuge verilows. The bottom of the vcasing isarranged to communicate with the top of said reservoir. In order that -theapparatus may operate as an ordinary vacuum cleaner. a cock is associated with the delivery 25 conduit, whereby vsaid outlet opening or openings may be cut on from communication with said fluid reservoir. Air will then be vdrawn over .or through the surface to be cleaned by the suction Means may also be provided for heating the fluid-in said circuit.

'l'he following is a description of a number of embodiments -of the invention, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings, in which: 35

Figure 1v is a sectional elevation of a cleaning device in which cleaning liquid iiows from a reservoir under gravitythrough a rotating brush and is withdrawn from the surface being cleaned 4.by suction openings by means of a punip'whicli. o

delivers the liquid back to the reservoir,

Figure 2 is an under-plan view of the` brush, showing the dlspomtion of the suction and delivery openings,

Figure 3 isa similar viewtorigure 2, showi- 4|;-

ing-an alternative arrangement for'the suction openings. l

Figure 4 is a section on the line i-I of Figy ure3. i Figure Hs a 'section on the .l-l of Il'ig 50 `ure d 'Figure 6 isa sectional elevation of .a more simple form of construction embodying a fixed brushy for vtraversing the surface to be cleaned 4but which operates uponl the same general prin` 53 ciple as that of the construction of the previous figures, and

Figure 7 is an under-plan of the brush, showing the outlet openings "and suction openings.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, a. supporting framework Il 4is mounted on trolley-wheels Il and may bepropelled by a handle I2 pivoted to a part of the framework at il. Mounted von the supporting framework is a reservoir Il for cleaning liquid which is provided with a hinged nlling lid il and an overilow pipe I6 at the upper part thereof and with a draw-off cock `I1 at the bottom thereof. The supporting framework is provided with a domeshaped casing part il within which is located a rotatable brush il.' The rotatable brush is sen cured to a back-plate formed in two parts 2l and 2i. The part 2l is provided with an upwardly-extending peripheral flange 22 against which the back-plate 2l abuts so as to provide between the two platea a gallery-chamber 23. As will be seen from Figure 2. the underside of the plate il isprovided with a circumferential rib 2l ered a number of radially-extending ribs A number of sector-shaped brushes 26 are secured to the plate 2l between the radial ribs 2l by suitable setscrews 21. Both the radial'ribs and the circumferential ribs are provided with a number of downwardly-extending nozzles 2l which communicate with the gallery-chamber 2l and which are surrounded vby hard rubber sleeves 2l. The ends of the sleeves are arranged flush with the surface of the brushes. 'I'he openings at the ends of the hard rubber sleeves are referred to as suction openings since, as will be explained later, the sleeves and gallery-chamber communicate with the suction side of a centrifugal pump.

The upper bachplate 2l is provided on the `upper side thereof with an annular trough Si.

`register with holes 22 formed in the backs of the brushes between the bristles.

The reservoir for cleaning fluid is provided at the lower part thereof with a delivery cock ,thespout 2l ofwhichisarrangedovera funnel-member II which extends through the' dome-shaped casing part Il over the annular trough il; whereby cleaning liquid maybe ar- Il by studs I2.` The peripheral portion of disc me ambie driving one measured by bolts u? or the upper bock-plate 2i. The lower extremity the hollow shaft 3l is provided with a spherimember il in contact with the hollow shaft 2l. A worm-wheel il is fixed tothe upper end of the hollow shaft 32 and is driven by a worm (not shown) secured to the shaft 52 of an electric motor 5l. As will be seen from Figure 1, the motor is located in a cavity formed within the reservoir Il and is carried by a. bracket il attached to a part of the casing I1.

The casing 31 extends above the top of the hollow shaft 39 and carries two ball-bearings Il and it in which is mounted a second hollow shaft `51. The two hollow shafts are arranged i1 is outwardly-flared so as to provide an inlet chamber I' at the centre of the blades 01 of the l centrifugal pump. The bowl is provided with a flat bottom plate 65 over which is secured a plate having formed on its under surface the said centrifugal pump-blades B1. It will be noted that the bowl of the centrifuge extends downwardly and outwardly from the tips of the blades and the outer wall thereof extends upwardly and inwardly. The centrifuge is surrounded by a casing 8l which is secured by studs i9 to a flange 1I which, in its turn, is secured by setscrews 1i to the top of the casing I1. A suitablesealing ring 12 is arranged to surround the lower end of the hollow shaft 51 within the casing I1. Another sealing ring 13 is arranged to surround the upper end of the hollow shaft 39. The casing 68 is closed by a suitable cover 14. The lower part of the casing 88 communicates through a short discharge conduit 15 with theupper part of the reservoir Il. The gearing between the motor and the lower shaft. 39 is such as to rotate the brushabout 150 revolutions' per minute. whereas the gearing between the motor and the pump and centrifuge is such as to rotate those parts about 6,000 revolutions per minute. The vanes on the centrifugal pump are designed to provide a' lift of about 2 feet of water. A suitableswitch control (notshown) for the motor may be provided on the propelling handle i2, which switch may.-

if desired, be interconnected with the delivery cook 3l.

The operation of the device is as follows. After.

other of the outlet openings in the hard rubber 'lol the casing Il and thence .to the short `discharge conduit 1I and back again into the reservoir Il.

Maures 3, 4 and 5 show an alternative way of u cured in suitably-shaped holes in the side wall of said hollow boss and are arranged to extend radially outwards. The lower back-platen is provided' with radial slots 6 opposite to Veach radial tube 11. Encircling each radial tube 11 is a flexible vrubber block 18, across-section through which is shown in Figure 5. A number of downi wardly-extending passages 19 areformed in each block, which passages are-arranged .to register at their upper ends with a slot 80 formed in the under wall of the tubular arm. I

A smaller and more simple construction is' shown in Figures 6 and '1, which dispenses with the use of a rotating brushand with the centri'- fuge. The shaft of the vpropelling handle l2,

the motor-casing 8| and .the reservoir |4 for cleaning liquid are' arranged co-axially, one above the other,- the reservoir is cylindrical in shape and has secured in the mouth thereof a plate 83 having a central boss 84 into which a suction conduit 85 extends. The plate is provided with a number of delivery apertures 86 and insetinto the outer face thereof are a number of sealing rings 81. .The lower part of the motor casing is providedwith an outwardly-directed ange 88.

' the under-side of which is recessed to receivethe' iol lrotor 89 of a centrifugal pump driven by said motor. Disposed between the plate 89 and the recessed flange is a second apertured plate 92 which parts are clamped together by a number of clamps 90. A' lter disc |08 may be disposed between the two apertured plates 83 and 92. The plate 83 and the rotor are so shaped as .to pro- Ivide at their centre an inlet chamber 9| which communicates with-the suction conduit V85. An annular gap is left between the tips of the blades of the rotor. and the outer wall of the aforesaid recessed flange, which annular gap communicates with the delivery apertures 86.

Secured to' the underside ofthe reservoir is an operating nozzle 93,having a. passage 94 formed therein with which the suction conduit 85 registers-and a' delivery conduit 95 communicating at its upper end through a right-angledpassage 96 with the bottom of the reservoir. Said passage 96 is controlled by an adjusting valve 91.

Aswill be seen from Figure y'1, the' lower end of the nozzle 93 is elongated in shape.- It is provided with a centrally-extending slot 98 which communicates with the passage 94. The nozzle is also provided on its underface' with a surrounding channel 99 which communicates with the passage 95. A flexible rubber block |00.1 s provided with a flanged portion arranged to rest against the underside of` the nozzle 93 -and with an upwardly-extending-p0rti0n |02 lwhich projects into the aforesaid slot 98. A downwardly-extending portion `|08 is arranged to pass through a hole in the back |04 of a brush. The. back of the brush conforms to the shape of the nozzle part and is provided with a peripheralrow of bristles |05. A number of smallpassages |06 in the back of the brush communicate with the I channel 99 and a number of 'small passages |01 in the flexible rubber block communicate with the passage 94. `The weight of thefapparatus is supportedon the surface solely'by the brush.

The operation ofthe device is as follows. After the reservoir has been filled, the motor is started,-

aisance for example, by means of a switch control Bwhich may extend down through the centre ofthe propeilingA handle I2. The'valve 91 is adjusted so as to provide the required rate of ow of cleaning liquid through the brush. The cleaning liquid descends through the passage 95 and through the ,channel 99 and passage |06 to the space within the bristles |05. The brush is traversed backwards and forwards over the floor, brushing the liquid well into the surface. A suction is` created by the motor in the suction conduit 85 and the passages |01. Thus the liquid, after performing the cleaning operation, is sucked up through those passages into the centre of the pump rotor.

It. passes out throughv the tips of the blades and is directed through the apertures 86 and lter |08 back again intoy the reservoir.

I claim:

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising a pumpV having a disc-type rotor adapted to rotate about an upright axis, a centrifuge operativelylassociated with vtheoutlet of the pump, a reservoir' f'or cleaning liquid in communication with the outlet of the centrifuge, a delivery conduit operativelyv its` cleaned, which brush is mounted on a hollow-r drivingshaft and is provided with-passages between said suction openings and the interior of -sa d shaft and which pump rotor is also mountedv on a hollow shaft communicating at one end with the inlet of the rotor and at the other end with the brush shaft so as to provide a return conduitv for the liquid withdrawn from said surface. 2'. Al surface cleaning apparatus comprising, in

combination, a brush having a fiat surfacek adapted to contact with the surface to be cleaned,

a `reservoir for cleaning liquid, a delivery conduit communicating with said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within the confines ofthe brush, an upwardlyextending suction conduit secured at its lower end to the center of the brush, a plurality of' branch suction conduits communicating with the lower end of saidsuction conduit and having openings disposed close to said brush and to 'the surface to be cleaned, a centrifugal pump having its rotor arranged above and co-axial with said-v .suction conduit and having its inlet communiev cating with the upper end of the conduit and having its outlet communicating with said reser- -voii' and an electric motor adapted to drive said pump, all of which parts are mounted as a transportable unit. I

- 3. A'surface cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatable brush having a flat surface adapted to contact with the surface to be cleaned, a reservoir for cleaning liquid, a delivery conduit communicating with said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within the confines of the brush, v

a rotatably mounted upwardly-extending suction conduit secured at its lower end to the center of' the, brush, aplurality of branch conduits coml municating with the lower end of' said suction conduit and having openings disposed close to said brushand to the surface to be cleaned, a

centrifugal pump having its rotor arranged above and co-axial with said suction conduit andy having its inlet communicating with the upper end of the conduit and having its outlet communlcating with said reservoir and an. electric motor adapted to drive both said brush and said rotatably mounted suction conduit, all of which `parte are mounted as a transportable unit.

4. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising, in combination; a brush having a fiat surface adapted to contact with the surface to be cleaned, a reservoir for cleaning liquid, mounted above said brush, a delivery conduit communicating with said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within the confines of said brush, an upwardly-extending suction conduit secured at its lower end to the center of the brush, a plurality ot branch suction conduits communicating with the lower end of said suction conduit and having openings disposed close to said brush and to the surface to be cleaned, a centrifugaly pump arranged above said reservoir, having its rotor arranged above and co-axialwith said suction conduit and having its inlet communicating with the upperend of the conduit and having its outlet communicating with said reservoir and an electric motor adapted to drive said pump, al1 of which parts are mountedas a transportable unit.

5. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising, in mblnation, a brush having a ilat surface adapted to contact with the surface to be cleaned,a `reservoir for cleaning liquid, a delivery conduit communicating with said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within'the confines of the brush, an upwardlyextending suction conduit secured at its lower u en d to the center of the brush, a plurality of lower end of said suction conduit and having branch suction conduits communicating with the openings disposed close to said brush and to the surface to be cleaned. a centrifugal pump having `its rotor arranged above and co-axlal with said suction conduit and having its inlet communicating with the upper end of the conduitfa dirt separator arranged between the outlet of the pump and said reservoir and anelectric motor a `adapted to drive said pump. all of which parts are mounted as a transportable unit..

6.' A surface cleaning Vapparatus comprising, in combination, a rotatable brush having a ilat surface adapted to contact with the surface to be cleanedpa reservoir for cleaning liquid, a delivery conduit communicating with said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within the confines of the brush, a rotatably mounted upwardly-extending suction ccnduit secured at its lower end to the center of the brush, a plurality of branch suction conduits communicating with'the lower end -of said suction conduit and having openings disposed close to said brush and to the surface to be cleaned, a centrifugal pump having its rotor arranged above and co-axial with said suction conduit and having its inlet end communicating with the upper end of the conduit, a centrifuge associated with the outlet of said pump and adapted to deliver theseparated liquid to said reservoir, an electric motor, transmission mechanisms between said motor, and rotatably mounted brush and suction conduit, and between said motor and pump and centrifuge, which transmissism` mechanisms areso arranged that the centrifuge and motor are -driven at a greater speed than the brush and conduit.

7. A surface cleaning apparatus comprising,

in combination, a rotatable disc-brush having a.`

suction chamber at the center/thereof and having a ilat surface adaptedto contact with the sur tace to be cleaned, a reservoir for cleaning liquid,y a delivery conduit communicating with said reservoir and having its outlet end adapted to deliver cleaning liquid within the contines of the brush, a rotatably mounted upwardly extending suction conduit, a universal joint adapted hermetically to connect the lower end o! the suction conduit to the suction chamber at the center of the disc brush, a plurality of branch suction conduits communicating with the suction chamber, and having openings disposed close to said brush and to the surface to be cleaned, a centrifugal pump having its rotor arranged above and co-axial with said suction conduit and having its inlet communicating with the upper end oi.' the conduit and havingits outlet communicating with said reservoir and an electric motor adapted to drive both said brush and said rotatu CHARLES HENRY VIDAL. 

